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Ypsilanti nonprofits that are set up to help those with food insecurities are seeing an increase in the numbers looking for their assistance. On today's "On the Ground Ypsi," WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale discuss how some of those nonprofits are working to address the increased needs with Andrea Kelly, an Eastern Michigan University grad assistant at Swoop's Food Pantry.
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For many children in Washtenaw County, when school goes away for the summer, so does a consistent source of food. To help solve this problem, Food Gatherers is bringing back its Summer Food Service Program. WEMU's Josh Hakala reports.
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Food insecurity is growing in Washtenaw County, and your local postal worker is doing something about it. On Saturday, May 13th, letter carriers in our community will participate in "National Stamp Out Hunger Day." When delivering your mail, postal workers will pick up the non-perishable food items you leave out and turn it all over to Food Gatherers for distribution. John Odegard is president of Local Branch 434 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the program and why letter carriers are working to make a different kind of difference for the people they serve.
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The Growing Hope Urban Farm in Ypsilanti turns 20 next month. And as part of its 20th year, it's making some changes. It's growing hands-on workshops, like mushroom foraging and beekeeping and expanding its reach, so people in the community can invest in portions of the produce fields. And it's fine-tuning its farmer's market with additional focus on the online market. Growing Hope's new executive director, Julius Buzzard, talks all about Growing Hope's 20th year celebration activities with WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.
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When the pandemic hit and we shut down, those living paycheck-to-paycheck suddenly faced the prospect of going hungry. But federal money was dedicated to providing a safety net. Many of those additional benefits have now ended, and not everyone is back to work and on their financial feet. So what now? Locally, an emergency food fund was established, and that program will continue as benefits for the SNAP assistance program drop. Markell Miller is director of Community Food Programs at Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor. She joined WEMU's David Fair to share the ongoing efforts to keep people fed.
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Giving back. It's the manner in which Melvin Parson chooses to live his life, one person or one neighborhood at a time. And Melvin's intention to make a difference has been realized. Melvin is founder of the 'We the People Opportunity Farm' in Ypsilanti. One of the ways Melvin and the farm give back is with a no-cost, food distribution program, and right now, a primary focus is on taking care of people in the Sugarbrook neighborhood, Melvin shared the inspirational story and filled us in on what comes next in his conversation with WEMU's David Fair.
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The additional federal money that was sent to Michiganders who received SNAP benefits during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is ending. WEMU's Josh Hakala reports.
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Tuesday was the start of firearm season for deer hunters across Michigan. But, as WEMU’s Josh Hakala learned, for those who have unwanted deer meat, there’s an easy way to give it to people in need.
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Food insecurity remains a major issue for many college students. WEMU’s Taylor Pinson has the story.
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Households in Michigan that get federal food assistance will see the benefit boosted for another month. Rick Pluta reports.